Saturday, October 09, 2010

IN CONCERT - Clay Aiken performs in a special Chicago concert Thursday and entertains at the Gala Benefit in Raleigh on Saturday. Graphic by AmazingCA, photos by Karen Eh.

NIP Aims for $50k Pepsi Grant

Chicago Sell-Out, Gala Fill Agenda

Clay Aiken and a huge contingent of fans are days away from a jam-packed weekend that opens with a sold-out Tried & True Concert at Park West in Chicago, IL, Thursday followed by the 2010 National Inclusion Project Champions Gala Benefit 862 miles away in Raleigh, NC, on Saturday.

Sponsored by WTTW, Chicago's PBS station, the exclusive one-night-only performance at the intimate Park West Theatre will feature the singer's chart-topping hits as well as tracks from his brand Decca release, Tried & True.The special 7:30 p.m. concert was declared a sell-out this week.

While most fans will opt for a few hours in the air, some plan to drive the 800+ miles from Chicago to North Carolina for the Inclusion Project's annual Gala Benefit-Awards Dinner at the Raleigh Convention Center.

The Champions Gala annually celebrates individuals, corporations, and the National Inclusion Project’s impact on improving the lives of children and families across the country.

Saturday's event will include dinner, recognition of the honorees, silent and live auctions in support of the foundation's programs, and a special performance by Clay, who co-founded the organization with Diane Bubel of Charlotte, in 2003.

Selected for their substantive efforts to ensure no child sits on the sidelines, the 2010 honorees include PepsiCo EnAble, I Am Norm, and 11 college friends, who took a school pal on the adventure of a lifetime in 2005.

Below are videos and capsules of the 2010 honorees. Extended bios of the 2010 champions are posted on the Inclusion Project website.

SUPER BOWL COMMERCIAL - Pepsi's 2008 Super Bowl ad, Bob's House, was a unique and hilarious commercial illustrating a popular joke in the deaf community. It was created and enacted by deaf members of the Pepsico workforce, EnAble.

PepsiCo EnAble Champions Inclusion

PepsiCo EnAblecreates an inclusive environment for people with different abilities. In line with PepsiCo’s values and talent-sustainability goals, EnAble seeks to promote physical, technological, and cultural opportunities to “EnAble” their people to realize their fullest potential.

With a global reach and partnerships such as those with Guiding Eyes for the Blind and Walgreens, as well as their own Accessible Technology initiative and Inclusive Advertising focus, PepsiCo EnAble is leading the way in real, measurable, and practical ways to make a difference for all people they touch.

I AM NORM - This brief documentary of the National Youth Inclusion Program's summit in January 2010 describes the group's goals. View full screen at YouTube.

20 Young People Form 'I Am Norm'

In January, 20 young people with and without disabilities flew from various locations across the United States to meet each other for the very first time in Washington, DC.

In just one weekend, the I Am Norm group designed a campaign in hopes of bringing about that change. Through this campaign, they hope to raise awareness about inclusion, provide opportunities for youth to share their ideas about inclusion, and promote inclusive practices in schools and communities.

ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME - The above trailer provides glimpses into this excursion with its goals. The entire video can be viewed at the Darius Goes West website.

'Roll of His Life' Builds Awareness

In 2005, eleven college friends -- Andrew Carson, Ben Smalley, Collin Shepley, Daniel Epting, Dylan Wilson, John Hadden, John Harmon, Jason Hees, Kevin Weir, Logan Smalley, and Sam Johnson -- decided to take their 15-year-old pal, Darius Weems, who had never left his hometown, on the adventure of a lifetime.

Cameras were rolling as they left Athens, GA, and headed west for Los Angeles, CA, with three goals in mind: to raise awareness of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the disease Darius has; to test wheelchair accessibility across the country; and to convince MTV's popular show "Pimp My Ride" to customize Darius' wheelchair.

Despite their lack of movie-making experience, the resulting documentary, Darius Goes West: The Roll of His Life, has won 28 film festival awards, turned into a grassroots movement with a huge global fan base, and raised nearly $2 million for DMD research.

CAMP HOWE- Children with and without disabilities participate in a Let's ALL Play Camp. New camps will be funded with the $50,000 grant from Pepsi.

NIP Drops to #8 in Pepsi Refresh

"There are no words to explain what camp has meant for my son, who has never truly felt a sense of belonging to be recognized for who he is. What is the saddest thing is that he never expects to be recognized, because being overlooked is a way of life for him. I have never seen him look so sure of himself and so happy." - Mother of a son who benefited from an inclusion camp experience this summer.

Entering the second week of October, supporters of the National Inclusion Project are, hopefully, on the way to proving This.Is.The.Month for the foundation to land in the top 10 and secure a $50,000 grant in the Pepsi Refresh Challenge.

US citizens at least 13 years of age have a total of 30 daily votes to cast via text, Facebook, and through the Pepsi site. That's three votes a day for the National Inclusion Project from each eligible voter/account in a family. The remaining 27 should be spread among the charity's voting partners.

For supporters with limited time, the simplest way to vote is via text: #102308 to #73774 (Pepsi). Enlist texters singly and in groups (luncheons, dinner parties, school club meetings, etc.).

Imagine the immediate impact a fan-filled baseball park, football stadium, Chicago concert, or Champions Gala would have executing a group text for inclusion!

Register for Reminder, iPad Drawing

By registering at the National Inclusion Project home page, you will receive a daily voting reminder and be eligible for an iPad if the foundation wins the $50k grant this month.

In less than 10 minutes a day, early risers can easily vote through the National Inclusion Project's alliance list, as well as a second or third set of partnerships fans formed last month.

Just this week, new partners have been added to the NIP voting lists. In fact, charities have noted the faithful voting by NIP supporters and are requesting to be included in a group.

Thnx to Scarlett, fans can vote with the Carolina's new sidebar Pepsi Refresh widget or via the links below. Look for the widget at Facebook and in other Clay Aiken blogs.

Be sure to copy/paste a message similar to the one below so the organizations will know the Inclusion Project is supporting their cause:

National Inclusion Project just voted for you. http://www.refresheverything.com/nationalinclusionproject. Text 102308.

Throughout September, NIP supporters exchanged votes with other charities. Choose Group A, B, or C (extra accounts) for your second/third rounds of voting. Leave a message similar to the one above so a vote for the NIP will be returned.

Inclusion is giving everyone the opportunity to participate.View montage by SueReu full screen at YouTube.'Open Arms' performed by Clay Aiken.

Kai Keeps Grandma in the Loop

I talked at length with grandson Kai Friday evening. Actually, I mostly listened and asked questions while he chatted away about cars, trucks, football, basketball, Hawaii, among other subjects. His mother is usually nearby to translate any words I don't catch, but she was busy in the kitchen.

Lia has progressed to "hey" when we talk. Turns out she was my mystery caller a couple of weeks ago while I was teaching an afternoon of lessons at the academy. When I returned home and checked phone messages, there was one of silence that gradually evolved into a distinctive nibbling of crackers.

I dialed my daughter to see if Kai had randomly called me again. Upon hearing the description of near silence, she said, "Oh no, Mom, that was Lia! Kai would have started talking to you the minute he heard your voice on the machine."Below is a clickable of the opening graphic by AmazingCA:

Happy Thanksgiving to the Canadians! Have an awesome new week, Clay Nation!

9 comments:

Sandy
said...

Wish I was able to go this year to the Gala as I remember how much my spirits were lifted being able to see with my own eyes the wonderful work that the National Inclusion Project does. Watching Sue's montage and seeing Clay with the children, you know in your heart that this charity means so much to him!

How sweet that you get to talk to Kai now on the phone. I just had a great evening with Connor as well. He really loves hockey and to have him here and actually watch the game with me, makes me realize just how fast they are growing up. I think he now knows more than Grandma about the game! But our beloved Sens got kicked in the butt by our rival Toronto Maple Leafs!

Now, on to the rest. I so wish I could attend the Gala this year, but alas it's not to be. The honorees sound spectacular! I hope everyone has an exciting, educational and entertaining time. I will most definitely be there in spirit.

Beautiful blend by AmazingCA - and that's ANOTHER event I wish I could attend, but alas it wasn't meant to be. I hope everyone has a great time and that we're able to "share" the moment via video and photos :D

I'm still voting daily and I am hopeful we'll be able to stay in the Top 10 this month!! GO NATIONAL INCLUSION PROJECT!!!

I love your Kai and Lia stories....aren't grand children wonderful? Enjoy every second, as they grow up so fast. It's so hard for me to believe that my two are 8 and 9 already.

Thank goodness I registared on the National Inclusion Project home page, to receive a daily voting reminder. It makes it so easy for me to remember to vote, as I do check my e-mail several times a day for my business. Go NIP....I know we can do it!!!!

Your blogs are just always so chock full of information, graphics, montages and Clay Aiken...I love it!

GREETINGS!

This blog is about my passions: family, friends, music, teaching, journalism, Carolina basketball, and Clay Aiken. Since 2007, visitors have dropped by from 170 countries, the most recent being Cuba, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Nicaragua, and Aruba. Hope to see y'all again soon! - Caro